Five Home Rewiring Tips for the Fall Season

12 October 2017,
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Home rewiring should happen in your home if you are experiencing faulty electricity issues such as flickering or dimming lights, weird noises, or scorched outlets. Multiple trips to the circuit breaker are a nuisance, but the least of your concerns if your home is in need of rewiring. Old electrical wiring is a problem for you and your house because it’s a major fire hazard. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports an annual 45,000 house fires due to electrical failures or malfunctions. Rewiring your home is not just for better servicing your electrical needs, but your safety.

Signs It’s Time for a Home Rewiring

Just because you haven’t made any trips to the basement, doesn’t mean your house isn’t full of old, faulty wiring. The problem is knowing when you need a home rewiring, as some of the warning signs can easily be overlooked. The occasional electrical problem does happen, and unless it happens frequently, it’s almost impossible to tell what the cause of the problem is. Big or small, no electrical problem should be overlooked. If you suspect your home has some faulty wiring, here’s what to look for.

The age of your house. Age is a good place to start. If your house is 25 years old and up, chances are you need a home rewiring. The age of your house, however, doesn’t necessarily indicate that there is faulty wiring, as the electrical service panel and wiring could have been updated at some point. Make sure to check the model and manufacturer of your service panel, as well your home purchase records to check for age and any potential upgrades.

Frayed or damaged wires. Keep an eye out for any exposed wires. Wires overtime can fray and crack with age, heat, corrosion, or bending. If you spot any damaged wires, it’s important to contact an electrician right away.

Flickering or dimming lights. One common sign of faulty wiring is dimming or flickering lights. If a light dims or flickers while another appliance is in use, it could mean you’re overwhelming the circuits or the wiring. Flickering lights can also just be a problem with a defective or loose light bulb. If you’re experiencing dimming or flickering lights throughout the house, however, it could be time for a home rewiring.

Hot or scorched outlets. Outlets should never be hot to the touch, have scorch marks or a burnt smell. If you experience any of the following with any home outlet, contact an electrician immediately.

Popping, crackling, and buzzing sounds. Outlets also should be completely silent, but if you hear any popping, cracking, or buzzing sound when plugging in an appliance, there could be a serious electrical problem.

How to Properly Rewire Your Home

Determining whether your house has faulty wiring is a good start, but now it becomes a matter of properly rewiring your house. Your home’s electrical wiring is complicated, expensive, and dangerous to work with unless you’re a licensed electrician. That’s why it’s important to rewire your house right the first time. If it’s time for a home rewiring, here are five important things to consider.

Determine your electrical needs. Before you have an electrician rewire your house, it’s important to run down all your electrical needs. Make a list of all the appliances you expect to be frequently running in each room, such as a computer in your study, or TV and speakers in the living room. Go through all your appliances and where you plan to use them, as this will help you plan with your electrician your electrical goals.

Do your research. A lot of work goes into a rewiring your house, which means you’ll want to do some research before selecting an electrician. Collect a few quotes from different contractors, and compare their services. This can help especially if you’re working with a budget.

Get a contract. After you’ve collected quotes and selected an electrician, it’s important to set up a contract. A contract will state what is and isn’t included in the rewiring service, such as including the parts necessary for rewiring, cleanup, and a thorough testing and inspection after the job is done.

Plan ahead. A house rewiring is not only a big and expensive project; you want a rewiring job that will last its warranty. Since it’s recommended to have your house rewired every 25 years, you’ll want to plan for any additional appliance use in the future, that also includes any home renovation projects.

Check out local codes and permits. Your electrician should go over any building codes or permits required before rewiring your home, but it’s an important factor to keep in mind. Depending on where you live, the local codes and permits will determine anything from how many outlets you can have in a room to what type of wiring to use. Failing to get the required permits can result in unfinished projects.

Enjoy the Fall with a Proper Wiring

A home rewiring ensures you can continue to enjoy your lifestyle without negotiating with the circuit breaker. Unlike a loose floorboard or squeaky door, electrical problems should never be pushed aside for a more convenient time. If your home has old or faulty wiring, it means you’re at risk of an electrical fire and some devastating expensive repairs. Don’t wait until the house decides to give you a light show, call an electrician today.